Lo Houston Airport System ha trovato un sistema molto originale ma sicuramente efficace per aggiungere qualche dollaro ai non-aeronautical revenues che intasca: coltivare fieno all'interno dell'aeroporto.
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Airports make hay while the sun shines
Posted: October 8th, 2010 10:04 AM EDT
Ken Hoffman, Houston Chronicle The Houston Chronicle
Sometimes I get a reader question about Houston that's so unusual, and sheds a new light on Houston, it can't wait until the Sunday mailbag.
To my great surprise as we flew into Bush Intercontinental last week, I saw what looked like about 100 giant rolled bales of hay sitting between the runways. It seems kind of like a dangerous place to feed deer and cattle. What in the hay are they doing?
C. R. Keck, Houston
It turns out that the Houston Airport System is growing hay at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Ellington Airport. Even weirder, considering the government is involved, they're turning a profit.
"Please tell your reader it was not a mirage or pre-Halloween trick, we are indeed growing hay at Houston airports, and it is one of the most innovative programs in the country. We were the first to successfully manage the program!" said Marlene McClinton, spokesperson for the Houston Airport System.
The Airport Hay Program began in 2006, the brainstorm of Richard Vacar, former director of Houston Airport System. He was looking, frankly, for a way to make money.
Apparently, charging $5 for a pretzel wasn't bringing in enough revenue.
Before 2006, the Bermuda grass at airports was cut and thrown away. To Vacar, that was throwing away money.
The program began small, growing hay on 250 acres at Bush Intercontinental and 50 acres at Ellington. The airports hired subcontractors to cut, bale and sell the hay, and kick back a portion of the profits.
In 2008, the Houston Airport System bought equipment to run the hay business itself. More acres were planted, some with a premium grade of grass (Tifton 85), that produces hay used to feed horses. Now, hay is grown on 2,500 acres at Bush Intercontinental.
The mowing season starts in April and continues through the first significant cold front. In the past two years, they were still cutting grass in November and December.
Last year, the Houston Airport System produced 6,542 bales of hay and sold them for $131,804, which went into the airports general fund. This year, they expect to top $200,000. For hay, that ain't hay.
Anyone can buy the hay. Call Deidre Lucas of the Airport Hay Program at 281-230-8706 for prices and pickup instructions.
***
Airports make hay while the sun shines
Posted: October 8th, 2010 10:04 AM EDT
Ken Hoffman, Houston Chronicle The Houston Chronicle
Sometimes I get a reader question about Houston that's so unusual, and sheds a new light on Houston, it can't wait until the Sunday mailbag.
To my great surprise as we flew into Bush Intercontinental last week, I saw what looked like about 100 giant rolled bales of hay sitting between the runways. It seems kind of like a dangerous place to feed deer and cattle. What in the hay are they doing?
C. R. Keck, Houston
It turns out that the Houston Airport System is growing hay at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Ellington Airport. Even weirder, considering the government is involved, they're turning a profit.
"Please tell your reader it was not a mirage or pre-Halloween trick, we are indeed growing hay at Houston airports, and it is one of the most innovative programs in the country. We were the first to successfully manage the program!" said Marlene McClinton, spokesperson for the Houston Airport System.
The Airport Hay Program began in 2006, the brainstorm of Richard Vacar, former director of Houston Airport System. He was looking, frankly, for a way to make money.
Apparently, charging $5 for a pretzel wasn't bringing in enough revenue.
Before 2006, the Bermuda grass at airports was cut and thrown away. To Vacar, that was throwing away money.
The program began small, growing hay on 250 acres at Bush Intercontinental and 50 acres at Ellington. The airports hired subcontractors to cut, bale and sell the hay, and kick back a portion of the profits.
In 2008, the Houston Airport System bought equipment to run the hay business itself. More acres were planted, some with a premium grade of grass (Tifton 85), that produces hay used to feed horses. Now, hay is grown on 2,500 acres at Bush Intercontinental.
The mowing season starts in April and continues through the first significant cold front. In the past two years, they were still cutting grass in November and December.
Last year, the Houston Airport System produced 6,542 bales of hay and sold them for $131,804, which went into the airports general fund. This year, they expect to top $200,000. For hay, that ain't hay.
Anyone can buy the hay. Call Deidre Lucas of the Airport Hay Program at 281-230-8706 for prices and pickup instructions.
